Category: Hair Loss Causes

Hi Dr.Rassman,

Firstly i would like to thank you for the time and effort you take in providing this valuable blog – it is a great source of information! I am writing to you to ask about recent discussions on the web with respect to Acell and its (potential) ability to (completly) heal the donor scar. Have you had a chance to look at this ? What are your thoughts? If Acell can revise our donor scars it would be a great step for many of us who just want to buzz our heads!!

The technology sounds good, but I have no experience on how it would be used after a scar has formed. The question would be, “Would there be value for a person to include this therapy in the actual surgery?” Frankly, I do not know the answer to that question and can not render an opinion at this time.

Although they appear to have more invested in veterinary services at this point (there’s a lot more info on treating animals than on treating humans), you can check out the ACell site here.

It occured about half a year ago almost un-self concious of the problem my left eyebrow started losing hair. As I thought it would just grow back, I ignored the problem but as now its still left unsolved. My left eyebrow has kept the same appearance over the months. The eyebrow isnt completely bald, rather a majority of it is composed of short one millimetre length hairs which doesnt seem to grow at all. There are two small areas of the eyebrow that are have still normal length hairs. My right eyebrow isnt as affected but the right end of the eyebrow does show signs of hair loss.

I am planning to see a dermatologist about this problem but the appointment date duration is almost a month of wait so if you can provide me any advice that would be great. Thank You.

It seems you are doing the right thing by seeing a dermatologist. I don’t know what I can offer you in the month you have to wait to see the dermatologist that will change your outlook or regrow your eyebrow. I don’t know why you lost only one side of your eyebrow. It sounds strange. There may be many reasons why you are experiencing such a problem, but I will only be guessing and my guesses may just give you more anxiety and undue worries without solving the real underlying issue. My best advice is to be patient and address these issues with your doctor. Good luck!

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Can you get fungus on your head from wearing a hat all the time for too long that results in your hair falling out?

A fungus spreads from person to person. A hat worn by a person with a fungus could transmit the fungus as the hat is shared with another. Fungal infections love warm, moist environments and if you sweat from the hat that is carrying a fungus, you may get it. Depending on the fungus, hair loss could result. These are all longshots, but they are possibilities.

I started losing circle patchs of hair on my beard about 5 months ago the hair is growing back now but it is bright white. I also seem to have other hair coming in white on my beard now I am only 32 and my family has the balding gene but everybody in my family seems to maintain there hair color. Will my hair go back to its natural color, or am I doomed to get more white hair?

The exact cause of why you lost your beard hair in patches may be central to your problem. It almost sounds like alopecia areata and this disease can reverse on its own. The disease may have killed off the melanocytes (pigment producing part of the hair). I would look at other parts of your body to see if you are losing hair in patches there as well.

With respect to white hair, it could reflect whatever killed off the hair that caused patches and it may be genetic. Unfortunately, you will continue to have white hair growth throughout the beard and if this occurs, you will know it is genetic. It is really not about the age, but more about your genetic predisposition. I really couldn’t make a diagnosis on your information alone. You should see a dermatologist for an in-person examination.

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I love your site.

I have a strange question for you. For the last few months I have been sleeping with my hand kind of positioned as a pillow, if that makes sense. I also sleep on one side and it just so happens my hair has thinned out just in this area. Between the ear and my temple right at the front edge. This is exactly where my hand is when I sleep. Could this be caused from this. I have changed my sleeping pattern, will the hair grow back. Thanks

I have never seen this before and only have had one person that I can recall even writing to me about a similar situation (Ergonomic Pillow and Hair Loss), and except for people who have trichotillomania and pull on their hair even in their sleep.

You should be examined by a good doctor. A miniaturization study should be done to see just what is happening. If your hair is miniaturized and you are rubbing on it, it might come out.

I read about this hair regrowth technique on the internet about massaging the scalp, and pulling on the hair and at night rubbing garlic into the hair and sleeping with it (it suggested other things like nail scratching and brush scratching the scalp, ect. I tried it for about two weeks (the first week putting olive oil on every night before bed).

Now my hair, which was a bit receded on the sides has significantly receded on the sides and into the top. In only two weeks (and it was pretty stable before). I am wondering if any of these techniques (like the scalp massages, or pulling, or even the garlic) could have caused the losses.

I just feel so lost and a bit depressed as to why it changed so drastically and what to do about it, if I can just even get it back to the way it was two weeks ago.

Thanks so much for your help.

Rubbing on the hair and scalp can force out weak hairs, and that is why we suggest no rough scalp massage. Pulling on your hair absolutely will not help either. I have heard of such remedies over the years. Some of them are pretty funny, like keeping various animal droppings on your head while you sleep, pouring animal urine on the scalp, standing on your head for hours (just being upside down is thought to bring more blood supply to the head), and on and on.

What is wrong with going to a doctor who knows things that you do not, can diagnose what you can not, and can treat you with appropriate effective treatment modalities? The real cost to you is the time delays you are putting into getting to the root of the problem. To answer your question though, garlic won’t regrow your hair… but added to butter, it makes for a tasty sauce on bread.